Thrilling Dark Comedy to Open Lindenwood Theatre Season

September 30, 2008

The Lindenwood University Department of Theatre will open its 2008-2009 Mainstage Season on Thursday, Oct. 2, with “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” (“Dangerous Liaisons”), the Tony-award-nominated story of seduction, betrayal and revenge by Christopher Hampton, from the novel by Choderlos de Laclos.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2, 3, and 4, and at 2 p.m. on October 5. Ticket prices are $20 for platinum seating, $15 for orchestra, $12 for parterre, and $10 for balcony seating. The performances will be held in the 1,200-seat Bezemes Family Theatre, located in new $32 million Lindenwood Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 2300 West Clay Street, St. Charles, Mo., 63301.

With beautiful costumes and scenery, the audience will be transported to 18th century France, where the cunning and confident La Marquise de Merteuil challenges her friend and rival Le Vicomte de Valmont to a grand game of seduction. After several moves and unexpected turns, their cruel competition escalates into a vicious battle.

“Les Liaisons Dangereuses” is a revealing portrait of the French aristocracy immediately preceding the French Revolution–a world in which the wealthy and powerful had nothing better to do with their lives than destroy others for sport.

The play was made into an Oscar-winning film starring Glenn Close as Merteuil and John Malkovich as Valmont. The story was again adapted for the screen in a modern setting involving teens in “Cruel Intentions,” released in 1999.

For reservations, contact the Box Office at 636-949-4433. Group rates are available.

The director of the production is Ted Gregory. The student director is Becca Helms. The stage manager is Nick Moramarco. The set designer is Donnell Walsh. The lighting design is by Tim Poertner. The costume designer is Donna Northcott. The production manager is Michael Kantz.